Windows Phone ‘next release’ set for holiday 2013

Microsoft has revealed that the next version of Windows Phone is set for release towards the end of 2013.

The news comes from a job posting over on the official Microsoft Careers website. The posting itself is for a ‘Software Development Engineer in Test – Windows Phone Job,’ but it’s the contents of the listing that’s really interesting here.

The fourth paragraph of the listing reads as follows: “This is a great time to join as we’re completing our current release are getting ready for our next release targeting the holiday of this year and we’re chartered with keeping the momentum for Windows Phone by bringing new killer devices and delightful user experiences.”

So Microsoft is targeting holiday 2013 for the launch of the next major Windows Phone update, which has previously been referred to as Windows Blue and Windows Phone Blue.

Windows Phone BlueA couple of weeks ago, another job listing revealed the existence of Windows Blue, the code name for the next version of Windows Phone.

According to that listing, “Windows Blue promises to build and improve upon” what’s referred to as “The Core Experience,” which represents “most of what customers touch and see in the OS, including: the start screen; application lifecycle; windowing; and personalisation.”

While this particular posting refers to an update of the main Windows 8 OS, it was also revealed at this time that Windows Blue would also be coming to Windows Phone 8 as Windows Phone Blue.

Are you excited by the prospect of a new version of Windows Phone 8 this year? What would you change with the OS? Let us know in the comments section below, or take to the Trusted Reviews Twitter and Facebook feeds.